I used this last night:

Captain Oicunn

Predator

Gunner

Yssane Isard

3x black squadron pilot

Crack shot

I learned that I don't care for tie fighters. I'm thinking about switching them for 2x tempest squadron pilots w/ accuracy corrector and adding Vader to Oicunn. Does that sound like a good idea? Or should I try something completely different?

I wouldn't put Vader on the Oicunn above as he's more expensive, easy to kill and would go down even faster.

Either keep it cheap as chips (Vader Crew on Patrol Leader, add an optional Gunner if you've got points)

Or go big, with a plan in mind.

This usually translates into Kenkirk or RAC, loaded to the gunnels for maximum defense/offense (Ken/RAC respectively) and an Engine Upgrade, to arc-dodge low PS enemies.

This leaves you with enough points for one super-ace, like Whisper/Vader, or 2-3 smaller ships.

What is it about the Ties that is disappointing you? For what it is worth, I like the Tie Advanceds with accuracy corrector but it depends on what you want to do with them.

The other option is a single Ace. Tooled up Fel is popular is he is pretty much the exact opposite of the Decimator.

Give TIE Fighters another shot before you give up on them. The most effective Decimator & TIE fighter list right now is probably:

Patrol Leader [Gunner, Vader]

Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Obsidian Squadron Pilot

Unless you're running RAC with EU, you pretty much want your Deci to be a dedicated ace killer. Gunner/Vader combo is exactly that.

You don't have to worry about fitting in Crack Shots as much when you have guaranteed damage from Vader, so maxing the remaining half of your list with jousters is what you want to do.

The beauty here is that all ships are PS3, so you can wither down shields with OSPs before forcing crits.

Vader is a good idea.

However, you also need engine. Here's some Decimator builds I've seen and/or used to good effect:

Oicunn w/ predator, gunner, mara jade, Issard & engine = 61 (note: mara jade can be swapped for vader or rebel captive---all good for different reasons).

Kenkirk w/ lone wolf, palpatine, Issard & engine = 62

Chiraneau w/ Veteran instincts, gunner, vader, rebel captive & engine = 62

You will notice that engine upgrade is a standard. Don't leave the docking bay without it! Your decimator is dead in the water against swarm lists (even with engine, it might not last long, but at least has a fighting chance if you can dodge some arcs).

Note on Vader crew: this is a great way to deal with the ever popular ace lists that seem to be common in most metas currently. Don't be afraid to use it liberally, although sometimes you don't need to vader a ton. In conjunction with gunner, you can do a lot of damage if your first shot misses (vader, then use gunner for a 2nd shot, use TL for better hit chance and vader again). However, don't waste it: you don't really want to be vadering against shields unless its the first shot and you are very confident it will allow a 2nd vader use on hull (like against Poe for example).

I find a 'suicide' Decimator works very well with another ace, like Whisper or Fel who can clean up what's left after your decimator is gone. You just have to make sure the decimator kills any thing that is a big threat to your ace (examples: PS11 vader, PS10 poe, 'stresshog', etc)

Edit: zerotc's list above is another way to run decimator + mini swarm, and in that case, I agree that there is no need for engine on the patrol leader...

If running Oicun, I would be tempted to go with Mara Jade and possibly a Tactical jammer instead of Yssane Isard. It is a build better suited to steam-rolling into the middle of the enemy and breaking them up. If you are fielding an Ace rather than a mini-swarm to accompany it, then an Ion Projector instead of the Tactical Jammer might be better. Any ship you hit will potentially take damage, ion and stress all in one go.

Your original list is pretty close to the list I am running now.

Oicunn

- Rebel Captive

- Anti-Pursuit Lasers

- Predator

Howlrunner

- Crack Shot

2 x Black Squadron Pilot

- Crack Shot

Total: 99 points

Howlrunner adds that little extra 'oomph' to your BlackCrack squad.

Your original list is pretty close to the list I am running now.

Oicunn

- Rebel Captive

- Anti-Pursuit Lasers

- Predator

Howlrunner

- Crack Shot

3 x Black Squadron Pilot

- Crack Shot

Total: 99 points

Howlrunner adds that little extra 'oomph' to your BlackCrack squad.

I think you mean 2 x Black Squadron Pilots instead of 3.

I think you mean 2 x Black Squadron Pilots instead of 3.

Corrected. Thanks!

What is it about the Ties that is disappointing you? For what it is worth, I like the Tie Advanceds with accuracy corrector but it depends on what you want to do with them.The other option is a single Ace. Tooled up Fel is popular is he is pretty much the exact opposite of the Decimator.

They are just too squishy. I usually don't get much use out of them before they pop.

"Screw the Rule"

Oicunn

Daredevil

Mara Jade

Rebel Captive

Dauntless

Engine Upgrade

Epsilon Leader

Zeta Leader

PTL

RAM THE DAMAGE HOME!

Oicunn bumps, deals a damage Dauntless to trigger DareDevil Bump again Deal another Damage Receive 2 stress. Fly the Ties close to oic, Have Epsilon remove one stress, have Zeta Trigger PTL with your 2 actions of choice, then in combat remove 1 stress from both. Trigger Zeta's ability. and pew pew the damage home. and hand out all the stress with Oic.

If your enemy is killing 3 TIEs with 3 agility, focus token, and 3-hull before they can be of use you may want to review how you are flying them.

With their excellent dial they should be able to make a nuisance of themselves for a good while. Every shot at them is another shot your decimator has to ram/shoot his way to victory.

"Screw the Rule"

Oicunn

Daredevil

Mara Jade

Rebel Captive

Dauntless

Engine Upgrade

Epsilon Leader

Zeta Leader

PTL

RAM THE DAMAGE HOME!

Oicunn bumps, deals a damage Dauntless to trigger DareDevil Bump again Deal another Damage Receive 2 stress. Fly the Ties close to oic, Have Epsilon remove one stress, have Zeta Trigger PTL with your 2 actions of choice, then in combat remove 1 stress from both. Trigger Zeta's ability. and pew pew the damage home. and hand out all the stress with Oic.

This is the list I've been thinking about:

RAMMING SPEED

Captain Oicunn

Daredevil

Ysanne Isard

Engine Upgrade

Dauntless

Ship Total: 55

"Epsilon Leader"

Ship Total: 19

Captain Yorr

Anti-Pursuit Lasers

Ship Total: 28

TOTAL: 100

The basic idea is that Yorr stays close enough to Oicunn to pull at least one Stress off him a turn, with Epsilon Leader flying close enough to both (or just one) in order to yank more stress off Oicunn. The Decimator's bare-bones for the combo except Isard, because she really does help add durability to the whole deal. APLs are pretty crappy, but it gives you an additional way to mess with aces if you can move Yorr in the way.

So far I've barely tested it, but it's been enjoyable. I thought the Lambda would be terrible but there's something about the idea of Oicunn ramming people that focuses attention on him and lets the Lambda line up good shots.

It's a list that may lose you playing partners, but......

Onicunn

Palpatine

Ion projectors

Dauntless

Sabuoteur

*add fel/vadar to taste*

You aim to bump a non large base ship. Palp ensures the ship gets ionised. Next turn 1 green forward to clear stress and rebump, cause damage, sabotuer action (title allows this). Your opponent must 1 forward because ionised..... rinse and repeat.

Still enough points left to take a menace to support along

Engine Upgrade on the Decimator is pretty cool. One game I watched, I saw a Decimator keep up with Tie Intercepter. It was great.

Oicunn

+Palpi

Vader

+Vi and full vader combo

Wampa

In 2 stores last weekend this was TOP8 once and won another one.

Engine Upgrade on the Decimator is pretty cool. One game I watched, I saw a Decimator keep up with Tie Intercepter. It was great.

Keep up? A large base ship with boost is 'faster' than a small ship with boost. Always. Base displacement makes a huge difference...

Engine Upgrade on the Decimator is pretty cool. One game I watched, I saw a Decimator keep up with Tie Intercepter. It was great.

Keep up with? Please. The Emperor's Imperial Decimator is FASTER than those little toys.

Oicunn

+Palpi

Vader

+Vi and full vader combo

Wampa

In 2 stores last weekend this was TOP8 once and won another one.

I'm waiting for my Raider to come in so I can test "Always Two There Are":

Commander Kenkirk

Predator

Emperor Palpatine

Ysanne Isard

Engine Upgrade

Ship Total: 63

Darth Vader

Veteran Instincts

Advanced Targeting Computer

Engine Upgrade

TIE/x1

Ship Total: 36

TOTAL: 98

Really, I don't need that initiative bid, but what should I do with the last two points? Swap Vet Instincts for Outmaneuver on Vader (seeing as how he's likely to activate it multiple times?)

Kenkirk+Isard+Palp means that late-game you've got a guaranteed two damage mitigation (suck it C-3PZERO), with Predator to still tear a new one - I think that's a little better than Chiraneau as a Palpatine carrier, and DEFINITELY better than Oicunn.

Vader's as mobile as possible, though since I only have one Engine Upgrade card if I can't borrow a second one I'm going to have to make a hard choice about which one is better with Engine Upgrade... I might just stick a Hull Upgrade on Kenkirk to maximize my agility benefits. Not ideal, but it's rarely an ideal world ya know?

Oicunn

+Palpi

Vader

+Vi and full vader combo

Wampa

In 2 stores last weekend this was TOP8 once and won another one.

I'm waiting for my Raider to come in so I can test "Always Two There Are":

Commander Kenkirk

Predator

Emperor Palpatine

Ysanne Isard

Engine Upgrade

Ship Total: 63

Darth Vader

Veteran Instincts

Advanced Targeting Computer

Engine Upgrade

TIE/x1

Ship Total: 36

TOTAL: 98

Really, I don't need that initiative bid, but what should I do with the last two points? Swap Vet Instincts for Outmaneuver on Vader (seeing as how he's likely to activate it multiple times?)

Kenkirk+Isard+Palp means that late-game you've got a guaranteed two damage mitigation (suck it C-3PZERO), with Predator to still tear a new one - I think that's a little better than Chiraneau as a Palpatine carrier, and DEFINITELY better than Oicunn.

Vader's as mobile as possible, though since I only have one Engine Upgrade card if I can't borrow a second one I'm going to have to make a hard choice about which one is better with Engine Upgrade... I might just stick a Hull Upgrade on Kenkirk to maximize my agility benefits. Not ideal, but it's rarely an ideal world ya know?

That exact list is what what I've been running since November, and it's called "Rule of Two". I demand you use the appropriate name!! *fist shake*

I'm 14-3 with it over my last 3 tournaments, having placed 5th in a 43 man Store Championship, 1st in a 20 man tourny, and 3rd in my most recent 45 man Store Championship (close, but not quite a Store Champion, yet). It's excellent, and if you PM me I'll fill you in on some of the most effective tips to flying it. So flavorful, so fun, so potent. Can't recommend highly enough.

Oicunn

+Palpi

Vader

+Vi and full vader combo

Wampa

In 2 stores last weekend this was TOP8 once and won another one.

I'm waiting for my Raider to come in so I can test "Always Two There Are":

Commander Kenkirk

Predator

Emperor Palpatine

Ysanne Isard

Engine Upgrade

Ship Total: 63

Darth Vader

Veteran Instincts

Advanced Targeting Computer

Engine Upgrade

TIE/x1

Ship Total: 36

TOTAL: 98

Really, I don't need that initiative bid, but what should I do with the last two points? Swap Vet Instincts for Outmaneuver on Vader (seeing as how he's likely to activate it multiple times?)

Kenkirk+Isard+Palp means that late-game you've got a guaranteed two damage mitigation (suck it C-3PZERO), with Predator to still tear a new one - I think that's a little better than Chiraneau as a Palpatine carrier, and DEFINITELY better than Oicunn.

Vader's as mobile as possible, though since I only have one Engine Upgrade card if I can't borrow a second one I'm going to have to make a hard choice about which one is better with Engine Upgrade... I might just stick a Hull Upgrade on Kenkirk to maximize my agility benefits. Not ideal, but it's rarely an ideal world ya know?

That exact list is what what I've been running since November, and it's called "Rule of Two". I demand you use the appropriate name!! *fist shake*

I'm 14-3 with it over my last 3 tournaments, having placed 5th in a 43 man Store Championship, 1st in a 20 man tourny, and 3rd in my most recent 45 man Store Championship (close, but not quite a Store Champion, yet). It's excellent, and if you PM me I'll fill you in on some of the most effective tips to flying it. So flavorful, so fun, so potent. Can't recommend highly enough.

Well, since I'm unlikely to use your EXACT list (only one Engine Upgrade after all) I feel no obligation to copy your list name, sirrah. I'm personally inclined to use the name "Super 'Pal's" anyway as I like punny names.

If I HAVE to drop/swap Engine Upgrade from one of them, which one should it be? I'm thinking dropping it from VADER; yes it makes him super-arc dodgy but the Decimator really needs that maneuverability boost agin swarms.

If I HAVE to drop/swap Engine Upgrade from one of them, which one should it be? I'm thinking dropping it from VADER; yes it makes him super-arc dodgy but the Decimator really needs that maneuverability boost agin swarms.

Borrow another engine upgrade at the tourney? Buy a millennium falcon?

I guess you could put stealth device on Vader, although he's a pretty sad panda without boost. There's also room for a seismic or ion bomb regardless of what you do...

This Decimator build seems very difficult to get through:

Cpt. Oicunn; Determination, Moff Jerjerrod, Ysanne Isard and Tactical Jammer.- 50 points
2x black squadron ties, one with swarm tactics. -14 & 16 points
Howl runner- swarm tactics. - 20 points

The idea is to keep the swarm close behind while Oicunn smashes into the opponent. You will go through shields quickly but with Ysanne giving an evade each round after that, determination discarding pilot-damage and then at least 2 crits can be flipped face down with Moff... the Decimator stays around for awhile.

Oicunn

+Palpi

Vader

+Vi and full vader combo

Wampa

In 2 stores last weekend this was TOP8 once and won another one.

I'm waiting for my Raider to come in so I can test "Always Two There Are":

Commander Kenkirk

Predator

Emperor Palpatine

Ysanne Isard

Engine Upgrade

Ship Total: 63

Darth Vader

Veteran Instincts

Advanced Targeting Computer

Engine Upgrade

TIE/x1

Ship Total: 36

TOTAL: 98

Really, I don't need that initiative bid, but what should I do with the last two points? Swap Vet Instincts for Outmaneuver on Vader (seeing as how he's likely to activate it multiple times?)

Kenkirk+Isard+Palp means that late-game you've got a guaranteed two damage mitigation (suck it C-3PZERO), with Predator to still tear a new one - I think that's a little better than Chiraneau as a Palpatine carrier, and DEFINITELY better than Oicunn.

Vader's as mobile as possible, though since I only have one Engine Upgrade card if I can't borrow a second one I'm going to have to make a hard choice about which one is better with Engine Upgrade... I might just stick a Hull Upgrade on Kenkirk to maximize my agility benefits. Not ideal, but it's rarely an ideal world ya know?

That exact list is what what I've been running since November, and it's called "Rule of Two". I demand you use the appropriate name!! *fist shake*

I'm 14-3 with it over my last 3 tournaments, having placed 5th in a 43 man Store Championship, 1st in a 20 man tourny, and 3rd in my most recent 45 man Store Championship (close, but not quite a Store Champion, yet). It's excellent, and if you PM me I'll fill you in on some of the most effective tips to flying it. So flavorful, so fun, so potent. Can't recommend highly enough.

Predator's actually kind of important, because ups his offence closer to Kenkirk's while giving some durability that Kenkirk can't have late-game. It also ups your offense without worrying about stress, making stresshogs even more of a joke.

The list tore apart a Palpshuttle + Vader/Soontir list that was played expertly, as well as a Crackswarm list, but lost to all things to a dual-Deci list (one Patrol Leader + Vader, one Chiraneau + Engine Upgrade, Gunner, and Mercenary Copilot). I questioned his Merc Copilot, but I'll be damned if it didn't come in handy. I'd still have preferred Veteran Instincts on Chiraneau, but it turned two crits, and one was a Direct Hit that ended the game, sooo... joke's on me? I misflew Vader anyway, trying to lure his Patrol Deci out of position so Kenkirk could take Chiraneau. Should have just taken shots and used the Sith Lord like a fire-and-forget missile, not like he could have taken Chiraneau + Gunner anyway.